PLEASE HELP, confused Aussie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Watty]

Hi all from sunny Australia,

After some advice. Everyone over hear has different opinions. I am setting up a small 24" x 18" x 20" tank approx: 130lt or 30 Gal. Only putting in 3-4 smaller non-agressive fish (clowns/grammas) etc. Only wish to keep soft corals like mushrooms etc. No ambissions to keep SPS. Currently have 3 x 24watt T5 flurotubes for lighting. Reefocotpus Skimmer suit up to 350lt tank, 700lt/hr internal power head for circulation and currently running a 800lt/hr hang-on filter. Cannot get a firm answer on if I should put in a Plenum under the sand. Currently have about 3" of crushed coral sand on the bottom and about 8kg of Live rock (more to come as dollars allow). Also considering upgrading to a 1400lt/hr canister filter (BIG but allows for expansion in future). Any comments on the Plenum or Canister filter ???? Please HELP

WATTY

 

[mr_X]

i don't think you need the plenum. i also think you should get rid of the crushed coral and replace it with smaller, sugar sized substrate. live rock and your skimmer is all that you need to be successful. i don't think you need the cannister filter either. :wink:

 

[WRASSER]

Agreed, I dont think the canister filter is good either. 8)

 

[Anonymous]

Here's my opinion on plenums: Wasted space!

If we consider that a plenum is an area for anaerobic (low oxygen) bacteria to grow, it makes more sense to me to have an area with more surface area than just a water column can add. The dead space in a plenum has an area for this bacteria to grow,suspended in the water column. But if we have that area filled with substrate, there is more surface area for the bacteria to proliferate. I think having a deep sand bed will accomplish more denitrifycation than a plenum, with less space.

I like canister filters for cleaning and maintenance. I have a HOT magnum I use once in a while.

I am not a big fan of the sugar sized oolitic sand. I like a bit bigger grain size to allow for more microfauna to grow in the bed. But, if you use tiny grain size, you can use less, and still get great anaerobic bacteria. That might be a big bonus in a small tank

 

[cindre2000]

Canister Filters have limited use is reef aquaria since they need to be cleaned often or they start to produce high nitrate levels. This is because they trap waste particles in the foam/floss and then the bacteria start to break them down. Some people who do use canister filters remove all the foam/floss and fill it with live rock rubble (or in one case they installed a light and turned it into a lit refugium). However, in the end it is just an expensive powerhead/refugium. Only efficient when you have limited space.

 

[mr_X]

put rock rubble in a cannister filter?
what a goofy move. just don't use it, and put the rock in your display, or use it for phosban and/or carbon.